Method and apparatus for cleaning and painting



April 14;, 1942. w. L. KERLlN 2,279,686

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LEANIN AND PAINTING Filed June 9, 1941 sSheets-Sheet 1 BY Z 'Arroe/vf I A April 14, 1942. .w. L. KERLIN2,279,636

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND PAINTING Filed June 9, 1941 3sheets-sheet 2 L; /fl 0@ +6 INVENTOR.

ATTOQ/VE REF.

April 14, 1942.- W... KER-LIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ANDPAINTING Filed June 9, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W/Zz MM AA/5527,6524 mINVENTOR.

' ATTOP/Vf) Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNlTED STATES PATENT orrics METHODAND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND PAINTING William Lambert Kerlin, LosAngeles, Calif., assignor to Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc., SantaMonica, Calif.

-Application June 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,264

'25 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning andpainting-material such as sheet metal.

The invention has found particular use in processing sheets of aluminum,aluminum alloy and the like such as are used by aircraft manufactur--ers. The material is usually shipped in to the aircraft manufacturingplant in relatively large sheets of 5 x 12 it. dimensions and variationsthereof. As is'well mown, both aluminum and its alloys are relativelysoft metals and are therefore subject to scratching during the handlingof the sheets, both preparatory to their being fabricated into actualparts and during the actual fabrication. As is also well known, aluminumand its alloys are subject to corrosion and these scratches increase thevulnerability of the material to corrosive action. Accordingly it iscommon practice to paint both sides of the sheet material with a zinc.chromate primer, Lionoil,"

-or the like, which coatings serve a dual purpose in lessening thechances of scratching and protecting the material against corrosion. Inpainting the sheets it was found that the material during handling atthe null and in shipment picked up a certain amount of oil and foreignmatter which prevented obtaining a goodpaint adhesion. Consequently, itis first necessary to remove this foreign matter.

It can be readily understood that hand cleaning, painting and drying ofthis sheet material would be a tedious and time-consuming task and inaddition would require a considerable amount of handling facilities forthe sheets while they are being processed.

My invention has for its rincipal object the rapid and successfulprocessing of such sheets of material in a manner requiring a relativelysmall amount of labor. It is a further object to pro-' vide an apparatushaving facilities for cleaning all foreign matter from a piece of sheetmaterial preparatory to painting. Another object of my invention is toprovide 'an apparatus having facilities for thoroughly rinsing acleaning compound from'the material.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus havingfacilities for painting and drying both sides of a piece of material.

Additional objects of my invention include the rapid drying of therinsing agent by heat immediately after it has been applied; the rapidof the paint by heat and air immediately I after it has been applied,the use of a continu 1 ously moving conveyor for carrying the sheets ithrough the various operations; the provision of by which the cleaningagent are wiped from the apparatus which successively pgfptorms itscleaning, rinsing and painting imitations in an extremely short space oftime while the sheet of material is passing therethrough; and the use ofmeans to successively wipe the cleaning compound and rinsing agent fromthe sheets immediately subsequent to their application.

Other objects will become apparent after reading the specification inconjunction with a study of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of my complete sheetcleaning and painting apparatus and showing a plurality of sheets beingcarried through the various compartments by means of a conveyor of theendless variety.

Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of a conveyor chain and track andhanger means associ shgws a manner in which a sheet is attached toacarrying member which'is in turn detachably 5 connected to the hanger.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in cross section, of cleaning and rinsingcompartments of the apparatus and showing a plurality of spray nozzlesby which a cleaning compound and rinsing agent are applied to the sheetsand showing squeegees compound and rinsing sheets.

Fig. 6 is a. view taken on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing themannerin which the nozzles for applying the rinsing agent .to the'sheet aredisposed with respect to the sheet.

Fig. 7 is a view taken along the line of Fig. 5 and showing the mannerin which the Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the spray nozzles andshowing its relation to the sheet. 1

Fig. 9 is a sectionalview of the spray nozzle as taken along the line9-9 of Fig; 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of an air circulating device associated withthe painting compartments of the apparatus and arrows indicate thedirection of flow of air therethrough.

Fig. 11 is a view taken on' theline llf-ll of. Fig. 10 and showing .adetail of an air difi'using -with respect to thetrack 22.

which a sheet of material passes after it has.

been painted.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of a track, conveyor chainand hanger arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 2 and showing, in

addition, a-gang of air sprays disposed on either side of thecombination at the exit from the rinsing compartment of the apparatusfor blowing back the rinsing agent which has been deposited on thetracks, chain and carrier; and

Fig. 14 is an elevational view of the adjustable squeegee shown at theleft side of Fig. 5.

With reference to the drawings and particularly Fig. 1 thereof, thecleaning and painting apparatus of my invention is contained within anelongated housing I8 having a U-shaped inset portion l2 on one sidethereof intermediate its length. A conveyor assembly l4'is providedlargely within the housing and near the top thereof for carrying sheets.of material to be processed through the various operations.

The conveyor assembly l4 has a portion which lies outside the housing,extending over the inset portion l2 thereof. The inset portion isutilized for loading and unloading the conveyor assembly andconsequently its length is determined by the maximum length of anyarticles or sheets of material which are to be processed by theapparatus.

The entrance to the housing I is .formed in an end wall l6 of the insetportion l2 and the exit is formed in the opposite end wall I8. .When theapparatus is operating the articles are suscarried by the movingportions thereof into the entrance in wall l6, through the housing I8and out the exit in wall l8.

The conveyor assembly I4 is shown in its entirety in Fig. l and variousparts thereof are detailed in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The assembly is in theform of an elongated oval having two long pended from the conveyorassembly and are straight sides and-an arcuate portion at each endthereof serving to connect the straight sides. A plurality of supportingbrackets 28 are used'to attach the assembly to the housing It), and atrack 22 of I-beam shape fixed to the brackets 20 supports all of themoving parts'of the conveyor assembly with the exception of a largedriving sprocket 24 at one end of the assembly and a driven sprocket 26of similar sizeat the.

other end of the assembly. Aplurality of Y- shaped hangers 28 providedwith beveled, oppositely disposed rollers 30 are utilized to carry theremaining moving conveyor assembly parts; The rollers are journaled at321 to the upper legs of the Y-shaped hangers and they travel along theupper surfaces of the lower flanges of'the I- beam track 22. These uppersurfaces are beveled to correspond to the bevel of the rollers 38 and inthis manner the hangers 28 are kept centered An endless chain 34 is hungfrom the central leg of each Y-shaped hanger 28 and'in this manner issupported throughout its length. The chain meshes with both of the endsprockets 24 and 26 and is caused. to travel by reason of its meshingrelation with the driving sprocket 24 which is rotated on its axis by aworm and gear connection with a power unit 36. In addition totransmitting the driving force of unit 36 to the hangers 28, the chainserves to hold each hanger in a definite spaced relation to its adjacenthanger thus assuring an even distribution of the hangers along the Ibeam track.

As shown in Fig. 1, every fourth hanger 28 has a downward extension 38thereon and the lower extremity thereof is connected at 40 to a pivotalassembly 42 which is a part of a load bar 44. Each load bar is providedwith one pivotal assembly intermediate its ends and consequently isconnected to only one hanger 28. In connection with this, it might bewell to point out that while I have specified every fourth hanger 28 ashaving a downward extension for attachment to a load bar, this is avariable and is determined by the length of the load bars to be used inthe apparatus plus an allowance of space between the load bar ends.Inasmuch as the load bars are pivoted to the hangers it is necessarythat some guiding means be provided to hold the load bars in a desiredposition relative to the hangers and the chain 34. Accordingly, a loadbar guide track 46 is disposed on either side of the load bars and isattached to the lower parts of the conveyor supporting brackets 20. Eachload bar end has a horizontal roller 48 mounted therein, the. diameterof the rollers being greater than the width of the load bar, and theserollers fit loosely in the load bar guide track 46 as is well sho wn inFigure 4.

The loadbar guide tracks just described extend onlyv along the straightsides of the conveyor assembly and each track'has a flared load barreceiving portion 58 at one end thereof.

For example, looking at Fig.1, it may be seen that the load bar track onthe left or near side of the apparatus has its flared portion on'thenear end whereas the right or far track has its portions are desirablefor the reason that in the travel of the load bars through the completeapparatus they completely leave and reenter the straight guide tracks ateach end of the conveyor assembly. Accordingly, it is necessary toprovide an additional guiding arrangement of tracks at each end of theapparatus to control the swinging of the load bars about their pivotalconnections to the hangers 28. I

This latter guiding arrangement comprises a pair of converging S-shapedtracks 52 and 54 at the extreme ends of the housing l8, being sodisposed that the greatest distance between the tracks is substantiallythe same as the distance between the. outside portions of the straightsection tracks 46 and the least distance between the tracks is onlyslightly greater than the diameter of the load bar rollers 48.

In addition to the S-shaped tracks, there is also provided a cross track56, best shown in Fig. 3, the purpose of 'the latter track being torestrain the load bars from moving out of a hori zontal plane as thechange over from one straight section guide track to the other takesplace.

The S-shaped tracks guide the leading end of a load bar toward thelongitudinal center of the apparatus housing H] as the hanger to whichit is connected moves approximately one-quarter of the way around theperimeter of one of the sprockets 24 or 26. When the leading end of theload bar reaches the longitudinal center referred to, it lies betweenthe S-shaped tracks in the vicinity of their closest adjacency and tendsto pivot there as its hanger moves the next quarter of the way aroundthe sprocket. While the pivoting takes place, the other .end of the loadbar is swinging from one straight section track to the other and isguided in its travel by the short cross track 56. After this latter endof the load bar completes its transverse travel it is received in theflared portion 50 of the left hand straight track and as the hangerleaves the sprocket the primary leading and of the load bar becomes thetrailing end as its direction of travel is reversed.

Each load bar 44 is provided with a pair of hoks 58 on the bottom sidethereof from which a sheet carrying rod 60 i detachably hung. The

sheet carrying rods are of substantially the same' length as the loadbars and each has three quickly operable fasteners 62 equally spacedalong its length. One of these fasteners 62 is clearly shown in Fig. Itis fixed to the sheet carrying rod and on the under side thereof are twoconeshaped members 64 and 56 with their ccnal points facing each other.Member 6 is fixed and member fifi is adjustable toward and away frommember- 64, the adjustment being accomplished by r0- tating a handle 68.The handle turns a threaded shaft "Ill in a tapped portion of thefastener and the adjustable cone member, being fixed to the shaft, isthus movedwith respect to the fixed cone member. A portion of a sheet 12to be processed is shown held between the points of the cone members andin this manner it is carried throughout the apparatus. The purpose ofthe members being pointed is to keep to a minimum the sheet area whichwill not be subjected to the processing operations.

Within the housing Ill a plurality of transversely and longitudinallyextending walls are provided to define separate compartments, and thesecompartments will be discussed in theorder in which the sheets ofmaterial are passed therethrough by the moving parts of the conveyorassembly l4. 7

As was previously stated, wall I6 is provided with an entrance throughwhich the sheets pass into the housing ID. This wall in cooperation witha portion of the housing, a transverse wall 14 and a longitudinal wall16' form a compart-' ment 18 shown in Figs. and 7. This is what 'may betermed the chemical compartment for it is herein that a cleaningchemical, for example Kelite, process K mixed with waterin a solution ofseven and one-half gallons of chemical to two .hundred eighty gallons ofwater, is applied. to

both sides of the sheets. Ithas been found desirable and efiicien't torun the conveyor at a speed of eighteen feet per minute,consequently asheet is passed through the chemical compartment 18 in something likesix seconds, and for that reason it is necessary to vigorously applythechemical to assure the removal of foreign matter from the sheet surfacesin such a short time.

This has been accomplished through the use of a plurality of spray headassemblies 80 as shown in detailjn Figs. 8 and 9. These assemblies aremounted in a plurality of opposed vertical banks 'of mine each supportedby lead-in pipes 82 running from a chemical supply tank under pressure(not shown). Each spray head assembly includes a. cap N with a. saw slot86 therein, the cap being screwed'onto a short length of pipe 88 whichis in turn screwed intdanother. short length of pipe 50 of largerdiameter than the pipe 88. This piping arrangement is important in thatit serves to increase the line pressure to a relatively high valueresulting in a more effective spray. The

pipe 90 is connected into one of the vertical' chemical lead-in pipes 82with an elbow fitting 92 and is rotated downward approximately 45degrees from the vertical about the elbow pivot so that the chemicalsprayed from the slotted cap 84 strikes the sheet in a downward glancingmanner. This angularity between the sheet and the spray afiords ascrubbing action which assists the chemical properties in the removal offoreign matter. I

It will be noted in Fig. 5 that a pair of Squeegees 94 extend into thechemical compartment 18 forming a V in the entrance thereof. Thesesqueegees serve to prevent the pressure chemical spray from escapingthrough the entrance. Another pair of squeegees 96 are disposed in anexit formed in the transverse wall 14 of the chemical compartment and ina manner such that they converge away from the compartment. Thesesqueegees and another similar pair 98 are adjusted to exert only a lightwiping action on the sheets of material as they pass from the chemicalcompartment. Thus, while the greater part of the chemical is therebywiped from the sheets, a certain amount'remains. This is for the purposeof prolonging the etching action of the chemical in the sheet surfaces,the etching improving the adhesion of paint which the sheets receivelater in their journey through the housing ID;

The latter squeegees 98 are mounted in the entrance to a rinsingcompartment Hill which is formed in a transverse wall I92. The rinsingcompartment is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and is bounded by the wall I02,another portion of the housing outside Wall, another transverse wall I04, and an extension 06 of longitudinal wall 16. The rinsing compartmentis very similar to the chemical compartment just discussed except thatit is provided with fewer banks of the spray head assemblies 80. Lead-inpipes I08 from a .rinsing agent supply tank under pressure (not shown)are connected to the spray head assemblies in this compartment andordinary tap water isa satisfactory agent for removing the chemical fromthe sheets. However, here again,- it is desirable to utilize a scrubbingaction spray under relatively high pressure in view of the short timethe sheets remain in the rinsing compartment. An exit from the rinsingcompartment is formed in the transverse wall I04 and this exit is alsoprovided with a pair of squeegees I I0 disposed therein in a manneridentical to those previously described except that they are adjustedlike extending from a point adjacent eachsquee in the manner of awindshield wiper blade. However, the squeegees H2 are of tubular form,that is each squeegee of the pair is similar to a smooth walled gardenhose,- the resilient portions each being mounted'on a pivoted bracket H4provided with an adjustment screw so that the distance between thetwotubular portions may be varied to suit difierentconditions. Also in thissqueegee are a pair of curved rubber sheets H6 or the gee tubularportion to a point near the connection-of the pivoted bracket ill withthe exit wall I04 of the rinsing compartment. These'sheets serve merelyto prevent the escape of the rinsing agent into the next compartment ofthe apparatus to be described. Before going on, however,

there 'is one more point in connection with the squeegees and that isthat they are tilted at an angle with respect to the vertical as shownin Fig.

14. This angularity results in the squeegees imparting a downward andmore eflicient wiping action on the sheet. All of the Squeegees are thusdisposed in various degrees of angularity with the exception of thesqueegee 94 in the entrance to the housing. Inasmuch as the primaryfunction of this squeegee is to prevent the escape of chemical from thehousing and not to Wipe the sheet, a vertical disposition issatisfactory.

In line with preventing the escape of the chemical and rinsing agentfrom their respective compartments, it will be noted that the squeegeescannot rise above the tops of the sheets without causing interferencewith the conveyor assembly, therefore a relatively large unprotectedopening for passage of the conveyor parts is a necessity. To prevent theescape of the rinsing agent through the conveyor opening in the Wall I04there is provided, on either side of the opening, a bank of air pressurenozzles II8 receiving their supply of air through hoses I20 from asource not shown and directing the air in a converging manner upon theconveyor assembly in the direction of the rinsing compartment. This airpressure blows back the rinsing agent that is deposited on the assembly.

i on the sheet surfaces to evaporate so that when the sheet next entersa painting compartment I22 it will be completely dried. This evaporationprocess is enhanced by using a heated chemical and rinsing agent in thespray assemblies. Heating these to approximately 160 degreesF. isextremely satisfactory, the heat improves the cleaning and rinsingefiiciency and that which is thereby induced in the sheet materialserves to quickly evaporate all moisture on the sheet while it istraversing the end compartment.

Shortly after the sheets begin their travel toward the opposite end ofthe housing I they enter the first painting compartment I22. Thiscompartment is defined by two spaced, transversely extending walls I24and I26 and by a protruding portion of the housing I0. On the forwardleft side of this painting compartment there is provided a vertical:shaft I28. This shaft mounts a plurality of horizontal arms I30 whichare vertically spaced fromeach other and are so supported as to beadjustable in both a horizontal and a vertical plane. At the end of eacharm, opposite the vertical shaft connection, there is universallyconnected a paint spray nozzle having a pair of hoses I33 for supplyingpaint and air thereto. The nozzles and their supporting arms areadjusted to completely cover one side of the moving sheet as it passesthereby. The paint. and air supply-is not shown but it is expedient tomount the necessary equipment below the housing I0 in a pit or the like.

While the sheet between the two branches.

As the sheet leaves this first painting compartment I22 it enters anadjacent, second painting compartment I33 which from a descriptivestandpoint is identical to the one Just described except that the paintspraying equipment is on the right hand side of the sheets path oftravel so that the right hand side of the sheet can be completely anduniformly painted.

To improve and assure uniformity of the paint coating an air circulatingdevice is provided in connection with each of the painting compartments.This device is shown in cross section in Figs. 10 and 11 and thecirculation of air therethrough is in the direction of the arrows.Referring to Fig. 10, air enters a duct I34 and is routed into thepainting compartment, deflectors I36 being provided as necessary toroute the air on both sides of the. sheet I2. The downward rush of airover the sheet distributes the paint spray evenly thereon and, inaddition, carries the paint fumes out of the compartment. The outgoingair passes through a diffuser I38 and thence into an outlet duct I40leading to a chamber I42 from which it is passed on through a duct I44to the atmosphere. An air moving unit I46 is shown by phantom lines inthe chamber I42.

I do not wish to be limited to an arrangement of painting compartmentswherein they are ofiset from each other as described, however, when thepaint spray nozzles are all mounted in one compartment and facing eachother, each tends to become clogged by the others spray in that interimwhen there is no sheet of material between them as caused by the spacingbetween the sheets on the conveyor.

As the completely painted ,sheet passes from the second paintingcompartmentit enters a compartment I46 in the far end of the housing I0.This compartment is also a reversing compartment identical to thecompartment I2I at the other end of the housing I0 and, inasmuch as thetime required for the sheet to be reversed and carried out vof theapparatus is relatively short it is desirable to hasten the drying ofthe paint. The paint drying is aided to a degree by the heat retained inthe sheet but I have added an air curtain device I50 to assure completedrying so that the completely processed sheets may be stackedimmediately. The air curtain device is shown in Fig. 12- and itsrelative position in reversing compartment I48 may be seen in Fig. 1.The device comprises a blower I52 for forcing air into a branched ductI54. One branch of the duct is disposed on either side of the conveyorassembly and the sheets pass Each branch is stepped at I56, ISIland Iand each step is vertically slotted at I62 so: that the entire surfaceof the sheet is equally sprayed with air, thus.

drying the paint.

After a sheet has passed through the air curtain and gone through thereversing operation it exits from the housing I0 at I64 and moves intothe inset portion I2 from whence it began.

The movements of the sheets through the housing and the details of thevarious operations to which they are subjected while they travel arebelieved to be clearly set forth hereinbefore. 'As

to loading and unloading the sheets, it has been found expedient toplace a rack with the sheets to be processed on the entrance side of theinset portion I2 and an empty rack for the finished sheets on the exitside of the inset portion. With the conveyor in motion three men attacha sheetcarrying rod 60 at three points along the top upon the sheet iscarried into of a sheet, clamping the sheet between the'coneshapedmembers 64 and '66. A man then takes hold of each end of thesheet-carrying rodand carries it with the sheet attached into the insetportion where the rod is placed in the hooks of a passing load bar 44 asshown in Fig. 4 wherepartment. Once all the load bars on the conveyorassembly have been loaded and the finished sheets begin coming throughtwo more menraise the rod carrying a finished sheet from the hooks ofits load bar and carry the rod and sheet to the finished sheet rack. Thecenter man of the three who fasten the carrying. rods to the unfinishedsheet goes over to the finished sheet and removes the central fastenerwhile the two end men are removing their respective fasteners, afterwhich the center man carries the sheet carrying rod back to theunfinished sheet rack for reinstallation.

While I have-herein shown and described my invention in its presentpreferred embodiment it will be obvious to those skilled in the artafter understanding the invention that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the scope thereof as definedin the appended claims.

In the following claims, the term paint is used broadly to includecoloring, coating and impregnating liquids, either with orwithoutpigments, and the words "painting and painted refer to the applicationof such liquids.

I claim:

1. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to becleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor through .a series of suc-.cessive operations, a plurality of 'spray means' adapted to direct achemical upon said article the chemical comi which an articlecompartments for painting and drying said article.

3.:In a cleaning. and painting'apparatus in to be cleaned and paintedis, carried by a conveyor through a series of oper-' pair of squeegeesof laminated construction through which said article passes afterbeing.

subjected to said chemical spray, said squeegees being adjusted to wipea portion of said chemical from saidarticle as it passes therethrough,means to supply a heated rinsing agent, a plurality of spray-meansadapted to angularly direct said heated rinsing agent under pressureupon said article t completely remove said chemical therefrom, anotherpair of squeegees through which said article passes after beingsubjected to said rinsing agent, said last named squeegees being adaptedto substantially remove said rinsing agent from said article as itpasses therethrough, a moisture evaporation compartment disposed in thepath of travel of said article wherein said article is completely driedby the evaporation of said rinsing agent, addi tional compartmentsthrough which said article is carried by said conveyor, and means insaid latter compartments for successively painting and drying saidarticle.

for cleaning and etching same, means for wiping a portion of saidchemical from said article, a plurality of spray means adapted to directa rinsing agent upon said article to completely remove said chemicaltherefrom, means for wiping said rinsingagent from said article, aplurality of means for painting said article, and means for drying saidarticle immediately after painting.

2. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to becleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor through a series ofoperations, means to supply a heated chemical, a plurality of spraymeans adapted to direct said heated chemical upon said article forcleaning and etching same, a pair which said article passes after beingsubjected to said chemical spray, said squeegees being adjusted to wipea portion of said chemical from said article, as it passes therethrough,means to supply a heated r' g agent, a plurality of spray means adaptedto direct said heated rinsing agent upon said article to completelyremove said chemical therefrom, another pair of squeegees through whichsaid article passes after being sub jected to said'rinsing agent, saidlast named squeegees being adapted to substantially remove said rinsingagent from said article as itpasses therethrough, a moistureevaporation-compartment disposed in the path of travel of said articlewherein said article the evaporation of said is completely dried by riedby said conveyonandmeans in said latter rinsing agent, the evapcratingprocess being enhanced by the heat in,

of squeegees through 4. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which anarticle to be .cleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor through aseries of oper-' apply a chemical to said arti-- and etching same, apair of ations, means to cle for cleaning squeegees angularly disposedin the path of movement of said article so as to exert a downward wipingaction upon said article as it passes therethrough, said squeegees beingadjusted to remove only a portion of said chemical from said article soas to prolong the chemical etch,

means to apply a rinsing agent to said article to completely remove saidchemical therefrom,

.- another pair of squeegees angularly disposed in the path of movementof said article so as to exert a downward wiping action upon saidarticle as it passes squeegees being adjusted to substantially removesaid rinsing agent from said article, and means disposed along the pathof said article to successively paint and dry said article after it hasbeen thbrqughly cleaned, etched and rinsed.

5. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an carried bya conveyorthrough a series of opera tions, a plurality a; spray means adapted todirect a chemical uponfsaid article for cleaning and etching same, apair of squeegees angularly disposed in the path of movement of saidarticle so as to exert a downward wiping action upon said article as itpasses therethrough, said squeegees being adjusted to remove only aportion of said chemical from said article so as to prolong the chemicaletch, a plurality 0f spray means adapted to direct a rinsing agent uponsaid article to completely remove said chemical therefrom, anotherpair-of squeegees angularly disposed in the'path 'of movement of saidarticle so as to-exert a downward wip ng action upon said article as itpasses therethrough, said last named squeegees being adjusted tosubstantially remove said rinsing agent from means disposed along thepath of saidarticle to successively paint and dry said article aftertherethrough, said last named article to be cleaned and painted saidarticle, and

in said,

it has been thoroughly cleaned, etched and rinsed.

6. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to becleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor through a series ofoperations,- means to supply a chemical under pressure, a plurality ofspray means adapted to angularly direct said chemical upon said articlefor cleaning and etching same, a pair of squeecle to completely removesaid chemical there- I from, another pair of squeegees angularlydisposed -in the path of movement of said article so as to exert adownward wiping action upon said article as it passes therethrough, saidlast named squeegees being adjusted to substantially remove said rinsingagent from said article, and means disposed along the path of saidarticle to successively paint and dry said article after it has beenthoroughly cleaned, etched and rinsed.

7. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to becleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor through a series ofoperations, means to supply a heated chemical, a plurality of spraymeans adapted to direct said heated chemical upon said article forcleaning and etching same, a pair of squeegees angularly disposed in thepath oimovement of said article so as to exert a downward wiping actionupon said article as it passes therethrough, said squeegees beingadjusted to remove only a portion of said chemical from'said article soas to prolong the chemical etch, means to supply a heated rinsing agent,a plurality of spray means adapted to direct said heated rinsin agentupon said article to completely remove said chemical therefrom, anotherpair of squeegees angularly disposed inthe path of move- -ment of saidarticle so as to exert a downward T wiping action upon said article asit passes therethrough, said last named squeegees bein adjusted tosubstantially remove said rinsing.

agent from said article, a moisture evaporation compartment disposed inthe path of traveloi said article wherein said article is completelydried by the evaporation or said rinsing agent, additional compartmentsthrough which said article is carried by said conveyor, and means lattercompartments for successively painting and drying said article.

8.In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to be-cleanedand painted is carried by a conveyor through a 'series of operations,means disposed along the path of movement ofsaid article for cleaning,etching and rinsing the article as it moves, a plurality of spray meansfor directing paint upon said article after it has been ,cleaned, etchedand rinsed, 'means associated with said paint applying means i fordrawing the spray downward and across said article to insure an,evenlydistributed coating, and an air curtain-for drying said coating, saidcurtain being disposed transversely to the path of movement of saidarticle so that said article passes therethrough immediately followingthe application of said paint. V

- 9. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to becleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor through a series ofoperations, means disposed along the path of movement of said articlefor cleaning, etching and rinsing the article as it moves, a pluralityof adjustable spray means for directing paint upon said article after ithasbeen cleaned, etched and rinsed, a suction device associated withsaid paint applying means for drawing the spray downward and across saidarticle to insure an evenly distributed coating thereon, and an aircurtain for drying said coating, said curtain being disposedtransversely to the path of movement of said article so' that saidarticle passes therethrough immediately following the application ofsaid a paint.

, it moves, a plurality of adjustable spray means for directing paintupon said article after it has been cleaned, airmoving means for passinga quantity of air over said article in one direction to evenlydistribute the paint coating on said article, and an air curtain adaptedto engage said article in a direction substantially normal to said firstair passage direction to dry said paint coating, said air curtain beingso disposed as to engage said article immediately following theapplication of said paint coating.

11. In a. cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to becleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor through a series ofoperations, means disposed along the path of movement of said articlefor cleaning the article as it moves, adjustable spray means fordirecting paint upon a portion of said article after it has beencleaned, air moving means for passing a quantity of air over saidarticle in one direction during said painting to evenly distribute thepaint coating on said portion of said article, additional adjustablespray means for directing paint upon another portion of said articleafter said first portion hasbeen painted, means for passing a quantityof air over said article in one direction during said painting of saidlast named portion of said article to evenly distribute the paintcoating thereon, and an air curtain adapted to engage said portlons ofsaid article'in a direction substantially normal to said first airpassage direction to dry said paint coating.

12. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in I which an article to becleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor througha series ofsuccessive operations, spray means adapted to direct a chemical uponsaid article for cleaning same, means for wiping a portion of saidchemical from said article, spray means adapted to direct a rinsingagent upon said article to completely remove said chemical therefrom,means for wiping said rinsing agent from said article, spray Saidcarried by a conveyor through a series of successive operations,- spraymeans adapted to direct a chemical upon said article for cleaning same,

means for wiping a portion of said chemical from said article, spraymeans adapted to direct a rinsing agent upon said article to completelyremove said chemical therefrom, means for wiping said rinsing agent fromsaid article, spray means for directing paint upon a portion of saidarticle after it has been cleaned and rinsed, air moving means forpassing a quantity of air over said article in one direction during saidpainting to evenly distribute the paint cc ating on said portion of saidarticle, additional spray means for directing paint upon another portionof said article after said first portion has been painted, means forpassing a quantity of air over said article in one direction during saidpainting of said last named portion of said article to evenly distributethe paint coating thereon, andan air curtain adapted to engage saidportions of said article in a direction substantially normal to saidfirst air passage direction to dry said paint coating.

14. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to becleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor through a series ofoperations, means to supply a heated chemical, a plurality of spraymeans adapted to direct said heated chemical upon said article forcleaning and etching same, a pair of squeegees through which saidarticle passes after being subjected to said chemical spray, saidSqueegees being adjusted to wipe a portion of said chemical from saidarticle as it passes therethrough, means to supply a. heated rinsingagent, a plurality of spray means adapted to direct said heated rinsingagent upon said article to completely remove said chemical therefrom,another pair of squeegees through which said article passes after being7 subjected to said rinsing agent, said last name Squeegeesbeing,,adapted to substantially remove said rinsing agent from saidarticle as it passes therethrough, a moisture evaporation compartmentdisposed in the path of travel of said article wherein said article iscompletely dried by the evaporation of said rinsing agent, theevaporating process being enhanced by the heat in said article resultingfrom subjection to said heated chemical and rinsing agent, additionalcompartments through which said article is carried by said conveyor,spray means in one of said additional compartments adapted for directingpaint upon said article after it has been cleaned, air

moving means for passing a quantity of air over said article in onedirection in said compartment -to evenly distribute the paint coating onsaid article, and an .air curtain inanother of said additionalcompartments, said air curtain being adapted to engage said article in adirection substantially normal to said first air .passage direction todry said paint coating. Q

15. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to. becleaned and painted is carried by a. conveyor through a series ofoperato prolong the chemical etch, means to supply a rinsing agent underpressure, a-plurality of spray means adapted to angularly direct saidrinsing agent upon said article to completely first air passagedirection to dry said paint coat-- remove said chemical therefrom,another pair of squeegees angularly disposed in the path of movement ofsaid article so as to exert a downward wiping action upon said articleas it passes therethrough, said last named squeegees being adjusted tosubstantially remove said rinsing agent from said article, spray meansfor directing paint upon said article after it has been cleaned, airmoving means for passing a quantity of air over said article in onedirection to evenly distribute the paint coating on said article, and anair curtain adapted to engage said article in a direction substantiallynormal to said ing, said air. curtain being so disposed as to engagesaid article immediately following theappli cation of said paintcoating.

16. In a cleaning and painting apparatus in which an article to becleaned and painted is carried by a conveyor through a series ofoperations, means to supply a chemical under pressure, a plurality ofspray means adapted to angularly direct said chemical upon said articlefor cleaning and etching same, a pair of Squeegees angularly disposed inthe path of movement of said article so as to exert a downward wipingaction upon said article as it passes therethrough, said sgueege'esbeing adjusted toremove only a portion of said chemical from saidarticle so as to prolong thechemical etch, means to supply a rinsingagent under pressure, a plurality of spray means adapted to angularlydirect said rinsing I agent upon said article to completely remove saidchemical therefrom, another pair of squeegees angularly disposed in thepath of movement of said article so, as to exert a downward wipingaction upon said article as it passes therethrough,

said last named Squeegees being adjustedto substantially removesaid'rinsing agent from said article, spray means for directing paintupon a portion of said article after it has been cleaned, air movingmeans for passing a quantity of air over said article iii one directionduring said painting to evenly distribute the paint coating on saidportion of said article, additional spray means for directing paint uponanother portion of said article after said first portion has beenpainted, means'for passing aquantityof air over said article in onedirection during said painting of said last named portion of saidarticle to evenly distribute the paint coating thereon: and an aircurtain adapted to engage said portions of'said article in a directionsubstantially normal to said first air passage direction to dry saidpaint coating. v

17. In an apparatus for cleaning and painting an elongated article,means for carrying the article through a series of, operations, aloading position from which thejarticles travel is begun,

' means along the path of travel of said article tions, means to supplya chemical under presfor reversing its direction of 'movement withoutchanging its direction of heading, means farther along the path. oftravel for again reversing its direction of movement without changing,its direction of heading, and anunloadi'ng position at which thecompletely processed article is removed from the carrying means, saidloading and .unloading positions being substantially adjacent.

18. Inan apparatus for cleaning and painting an elongated article, meansfor carrying the article through a series of operations, a loading 8azvacse position from which the article's travel is begun.

means for performing at least one processing operation upon said articleduring an initial portion of its travel from said loading position,means along the path of travel of said article for.

reversing its direction of movement withoutchanging its diiection ofheading, means for performing at least one more processing operationafter the direction of movement of said article has been reversed, meansfarther along the path of travel for again reversing the article'sdirection of movement without changing its-direction of heading, and anunloading position at whichthe completelyprocessed article isremovedfrom the carrying means, said loading and unloading positionsbeing at the same location.

l9. In an apparatus for processing an elongated article, means forcarrying the article through a series of operations including cleaningand painting, a loading position from which the travel of theunprocessed article isbegun, means for cleaning said article during aninitial portion of its travel from said loading position, means alongthe path of travel of said article for reing the material 'to a squeegeeaction to remove the rinsing agent, painting the material andsubsequently passing the material through an air curtain to dry thepaint.

'22. A method of cleaning and painting a piece of material including thesteps of pressure spraying-a heated chemical upon the material,- sub--jectin'g the material to a relatively light squeegee action to remove aportion of the chemical therefrom, pressure spraying a heated rinsingagent upon the, material to completely remove the chemical therefrom,subjecting the material to a heavier squeegee action to remove therinsing agent, pressure spraying a paint upon the material andsubsequently passing the ,material through an air curtain to dry thepaint thereon,

" all of said operations being performed while the material is moved.continuously-along as by a conveyor.

23. A method of cleaning and painting a piece of material including thesteps of applyingxa versing its direction of movement without changisremoved from the carrying means, said loading and unloading positionsbeing one and the same.

20. A method of cleaning and painting a piece of material including thesteps of pressure spraying a heated chemical upon the material, sub-.

jecting the material to a relatively light squeegee action'to remove aportion of the chemical therefrom, pressure spraying a heated rinsingagent upon the material to completely remove the heated chemical withascrubbing action to the material, wipingonly a portion of said chemicalfrom the material so asto prolong the chemical etch, applying a heatedrinsing agent to the material to completely remove.. the chemicalmoisture evaporation drying thereof, painting the chemical therefrom,subjecting the material to a heavier squeegee action to remove therinsing agent, pressure spraying a paint upon first one side of thematerial and then another, and subsequently passing the material throughan air curtain to dry the paint thereon, all of said operdried material,and passingthe material through an air curtain to dry the paint thereon,while the material is being continuously moved as by a conveyor.

24. A method of cleaning and painting a piece of material including thesteps of applying a chemical spray to the material, wiping only aportion of said chemical from the material so as to prolong the chemicaletch, rinsing the chemical completely from the material, drying thematerial, applying a paint spray, and passing the material through anaircurtain to dry the paint, while the material is being moved along as bya conveyor.

25. A method of cleaning and painting a piece of material including thesteps of applying aheated chemical to the material, wiping only a pofitlon of said chemical from the material so;

the chemical therefrom, pressure spraying a uougly qved as by a,conveyor.

heated rinsing agent uponthe material to completely remove the chemicaltherefrom, subject- WILLIAM LAll/IBERT KERLINQ

